The Way He Lived

Reader reviewed by TheBookworm

Confusing, Messy, and I didnt like it.

The Way He Lived by Emily Wing Smith*
Publication Date: November 2008
2 out of 5 stars

The whole community of haven is effected when sixteen year old Joel Espen dies unexpectedly of dehydration during a Boy Scout hiking trip. Joel was the nice guy in the neighborhood. The good guy who was always trying to save the day. He was now gone. The Way He Lived is told through six different perspectives who each have to deal with the lost of Joel and how they hope to move on.

I tried extremely hard to like this book. I even attempted to overlook the frequent comments about homosexuality and other improper matters brought up, but I still disliked the book. This book was a confusing mess of jagged edges without any pin point meaning. The Way He Lived was anything but well rounded. Unfortunately this book wasnt much of a book. I dont believe it was the authors intention but this book was just a mass of random thoughts at random moments that was uninteresting and most often confusing. Maybe if I was an actual character in the book I would understand what the deep meaning in the characters moving on actions really meant. But to me, the reader, it was just a jumble of improper nonsense and annoying regularity of self-pitying characters. I did not enjoy reading The Way He Lived.

Date Reviewed: October 25th, 2008